Meltzer said that Sting’s return has been a plan for a while, and isn’t due to the ratings dropping. In addition to this, it was noted that it won’t be a surprise appearance at the event, and that it’ll be built up over several weeks. Apparently WWE had a plan set for Sting’s return, but those plans changed due to an undisclosed injury to one of the parties involved, and a new plan was made.

Sting was last seen at WrestleMania, when he made his WWE in-ring debut in a losing effort against Triple H. It is now expected that he’ll also be participating in next year’s WrestleMania.

So WWE’s summer programming just got A LOT more interesting. While this a rumor for now, Wrestling Observer Radio is as close as it gets to a sure thing in the world of internet wrestling rumors. This opens up a world of possibilities, as Sting and Taker could fight each other at Summerslam and then have a rematch at Mania, or they could enter separate feuds for Summerslam but still end up crossing paths for Mania. Undertaker looked about a decade younger at this year’s WrestleMania compared to WrestleMania 30, and Sting proved he can still go with his insane match against HHH. What does all of this mean? I have no idea, but Battleground, Summerslam and the next month of WWE programming just got a whole lot better.